Sheet-drying process anb apparatus



June 24, 1930. 1. B. wlLLsl-:A ,1,768,498

' l SHEET DRYING PROCESS AND APPARATUS l Filed April 5, 1929 lNvNToR fPatented June 24, l.1930

UNITED. STATES Parra-.rrr oF'FlcE l.warns 3;. wILrsEA, or aocnasraa, NewYoan,l AssIeNoa rro wILLsEA wenns, or

BOHEBTEB, NEW YQRI, A CRPQRATION 0F NEW' YORK SHET-DRYING PROCESS ANDAPPARATUS Application led'April 5,'192t). Serial No. 352,758.

The invention relates to a paper drying process and apparatus, and hasfor its object an improved process and apparatus whereby the timerequired for seasoning or drying paper may be reduced to a minimum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a paper drying apparatuswith means for applymg heatto that part of the sheets requiring thelongest time for drying.

To these and other `ends the invention consists in the construction andarrangement of parts that will appear from the following descriptionwhen read in conjunctionv with the accompanying drawings, the novelfeatures being pointed out in the claims followmg 'the description. y

In the drawlngs':

Figure 1 is a transverse section o f a paper drying apparatusconstructed according to one embodiment of the invention, and

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, parts being sectioned awaytoexpose underlying' parts. y

In printing establishments, paper is often printed with more than oneimpression, an in color printing and lithographing it is very importantthat the several impressions be in perfect registration. The paper asreceived from the mill, due to its hygroscopic nature, is often too dampor too dry,'and as a result gives up some of its moisture to the air ofthe press room or takes up press room moisture when exposed thereto,resulting in contraction or expansion of the sheets respectively, andoften in curling of the sheets as the change is' seldom uniformvthroughout the sheet. As a result of this contraction or expansion ofthe sheets it is impossible to secure a perfect registration ofsuccessive impressions on the sheets.

To overcome this diiiculty, the paper received from the mill is seasonedorcondi- -tioned by blcwingvair from the press room over and between thesheets suspended ink bundles from carriers. Since the sheets 'of thebundles are clamped together by the suspending means,'it is impossibleto blow air between them at that point, so that it is necesl sary toinvert the sheets and repeat the opera-A tion to secure uniformseasoning.

By means of my improved process and api bodiment of the invention,radiant heat is appliedl to the bundle or stack of sheets in the regionof the suspending devices, so that the moisture is driven from theportions of` the sheets compressed by said devices to lower portionswhere it can be reached by warm'air currents. y, Referring to thedrawings,- the apparatus4 comprises a casing 1 of suitable sheetmaterial arranged to be opened at its intake and delivery points.Arrangedyvithin this casing are the upright supporting members 2 and 3on which are mounted the guide rails 4 and 5. Mounted on the guide railsto move longif tudinally thereof are 'a plurality of carriers,

each comprising a rod or shaft 6, having rollers 7 and 8 at lts ends anda pair of clips 9 and 10 mounted thereon between the rollers. From eachpair of clips a bundleor stack ofA paper sheets 11 is suspended.

4Air is blown upwardly a ainst the sheets by means of a motor drivenlower 12 having the pulley 13. The air is taken from the casing,directed over the heater 14`and against the lower edges of the sheetsthrough perforations in the Wall 15. extending between' and supportedonthe su porting walls 2 and 3. The same air 1s use over and over,provision being made, however, for exhausting some ofthe saturated airthrough the vent 16 f and admitting fresh air through the vent 17,

if desired.

It will be understood that the force of the i air currents have altendency to separate the sheets at the bottom and rise between them, butat the top the sheets of each stack are held together by the clips 9 and10, so that the air cannotcome in contact with the sur'- faces of theupper ends of the sheets. Consequently, the lower ends of the sheets aredried much more rapidly than the upper ends. Means have been providedfor securing a more Irapid drying of the sheets by driving the moisturedownwardly from the upper ends where they are clamped. Said meanscomprisesheating deticesarranged Ato l radiant heat to the upper'ends ofthe sheets.

j ends of the sheets. .-I-

' with reference to a 'endsof the sheets by drivingmoisture down-Awardly, and thus cooperates-with the' warm airvfrom it the moisture' thesheets. Y Y Y While" the invention has been described particularembodiment, it-is not limited to thef specific disclosure shown, andthis applicationis intended to cover such changes or modilicationsfascome vwithin the intent of the improvement or the sheets clampedtogether, means or scope of the following claims.

Iclaim: 1.; In .a sheet dryin apparatus comprising a casing, the'commation ot means' in *said casing for suspending a lurality ot and meansfor heating the clamped portions of the sheets near and adjacent'thesuspendl I sheets-clamped together',

sheets,

ing means v2.1m a sheet dhyin in va casing, the 'com inatio'n of meansin 'said casing'vir4 air currents upwardly. against thefsheets causingthem passes between ranged over' and adjacent andmeans'for directingthe'heatfrom said heating means clamped portions' of the sheets.

l 8. In a sheet drying apparatuslcomprising A'a casing, thecombinationof casin'g'for suspending a plurality 'ofsheets in lateral contact witheach-other,

that

- theair passes between them, heating means, and a reflector forreiecting theheat from Y' 'each other on each edges said heatingmeansiagam'st those portions of the` sheets engaged by the suspendingmeans. -v 4.111 -a-sheetldrying apparatuscomprising the com-.1

a casing having guideway's therein,

l meshes desired', a concave rethe blower by making'available-tofrom theclamped portions of Ysheets'- at and adjacent vmeans for blowingaircurrents l 'iin witness whereof have hereunto signed directing aircurrents against the ysheets causing them to spread so that'the airpasses between, them,

' apparatus compris- Itoqseparate soi that the air them, heating means.ar-

the suspended means for directingai'r'currents upwardly andv against the'sheetslcausing them to separate so means -orheatings'aid sheets 4at andadacent said clamping mams, I A

5' af site@ g all' Matus Comprising a casing havingguldeways there1n,'the ombinationoir apluralityot carriers movable on'said guidewaya' meansfor clamping a plurality oit sheets in each other von' each-oiQ saidcarriers, means fior directing air currentsjagainstgthe tree edgesotsaid sheets, causing .them to separate so that the air passes hetweenthem', heating means, and an insulated redentor tor re,`

lateral contact with idecting heatrrom said heating 'means against'those-portiers' oit the'sheets at 'and adjacent said clamping means-,

6, ln a sneerJ drying apparatus comprising l a casing, the'combinationoi a carrier' in said casing, meansY for clamping 'aj plurality 'olisheets on'said carrier, means torhe'ating said currents 'against thefree edges of said sheets, causing them to sep! arate-'so 'that the'airpa'sses between thei'n.,l and aheater arrangedfin the path of. saidmy name,

diddl" suspending' a plural-ity of means for directing means in said ibination'of'a vplurality of carriers 4movable f on said -guideways,

in. lateral Contact with for; directin of sai so' that 4the air' aircurrents against the lfree passes. between them, and

'of .said carriers, means f sheets causing them to separate Ysaid-clamping means, I

. ,asma atm-Sterf lies ' ila

